Request For Input On Future Plans For Fpn

[johnmetta]

Please, whatever you do, don't allow ads from Goulet Pens! Because, honestly, I can't afford to give them any more money!

 

/me heads over to Goulet to buy a Midori TN…

 

I hate ads. Viscerally. But since I haven't yet gotten around to donating, I'm a hypocrite. I hate hypocrites. Viscerally.

 

I'd much rather have ads and a stable FPN. Do what you gotta do team. I just thank you for being there.

[Drawframe]

I think ad's relating to pens, handwriting, papers and inks are just fine. Specialist sites offer specialist suppliers an opportunity to trade their goods and services, just need to keep a tight control of the content. That's my three penneth in as they say.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

I've read the posts in this Topic along the way, and have learned much. I've mulled things over a bit, so here's my tuppence worth.

I agree with Member wimg that there are choices to be made about funding FPN on an ongoing basis. I also agree that at this time Option 1, charging a mandatory blanket subscription fee, is not desirable. So we look to advertising as Option 2.

Mute static advertisements as described by wimg are fine: text, image & link/s. Advertisements should not hinder navigation, drain system/bandwidth resources nor interfere with display of content.

As to the advertisements, I reckon that advertising is advertising, whether it be from an entrepreneur or a multinational, an ink maker or an airline. I see no particular reason for limiting advertisers to those directly relevant to FPN. I propose that any which meet the FPN criteria of 'politeness & civility' should be considered. I have confidence that the FPN Admin Team would set rates according to various criteria.

That said, I firmly believe that Members should be subjected to less advertising than Guests. In effect, that would address the expense:performance:value balance of this site. Guests incur expense and slow performance to extract value from content, yet neither contribute nor participate, so would be of value as fodder targets of wide-audience advertisers. Members would see only a smaller number of site-specific advertisements sprinkled in the margins.

Placing advertisements only in a relevant Forum is a grand idea which takes into account display space limitations. However, as I would be disinclined to browse the entire site to ensure I hadn't overlooked something of interest, having the facility to view all advertisements in one fell swoop would be appreciated.

Also, advertisers must not have access to Member's activity logs or personal information not volunteered by the Member in their Profile.

In addition, I suggest that Guests be charged a very modest sliding rate fee for purchasing items in the Classifieds.

While somewhat off-topic, for reasons of transparency I would ask those Members who are not at arms length to an advertiser or business relevant to this site include such information as part of their commercial Member Profile, and those be available to Guests and Members.

Bye,
S1

Edited October 6, 2013 by Sandy1

[sisiay]

Speaking as a reasonably new, non-paying member, I feel like ads for relevant businesses (pens/pen shows/ink/paper/cases etc) wouldn't be too much of an imposition. I know many a post frequently sends me scattering to another tab searching for a vendor of some pen or ink I've just read (or re-read or re-re-read) about.

 

That said, I don't find myself bothered by speed or functionality issues with the site as it exists now.

[RLTodd]

I would definietly support going for Advertising, as long as there are no popups.

 

I think side bar, top & bottom bar, and inline advertisements would be a very nice economic solution.

 

I think advertising is a good thing, it is just so many of the ad campaigns are so bad, end up targeting the wrong markets, and just irritate the dickens out of people.

[wimg]

We'll have ultimate control over what will be displayed, so it will in line with the target market. Inline advertisements is something we will very likely not do, however. Most of us find those very irritating, and it appears quite a few members here too .

 

I am pretty sure we will start in a very simple way, which from a practical POV is probably best .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[raging.dragon]

For sure. From a practical perspective, small, easy to rollback, steps with testing and a trial period between steps is by far the safest route.

[georges zaslavsky]

As a daily user you should ask pens firms which are represented here that their sales or marketing directors post here so it is easier for customers to get things solved if they don't have an adequate representative or shop in their own country. Also ads for the best online dealers and pen sellers could complement the fpn activity quite well

[Mags]

I would be in favour of one not likely all these fund raising options:

 

1) increased advertising where anything goes;

2) pay for access and advertisement free FPN user access;

3) A downloadable app like Tapatalk for iphones where you make your one time app payment for FPN

4) Annual purchase of some FPN item which could be a pen roll or greeting cards which allow some profit for hosting after item and mailing expenses back to users.

 

5) a tightly administered and grouped set of forum boards in a paid area in essence sell pen groups, clubs some private space.

[ruben50]

I know I am fairly new to this group, but found the knowledge on this site to be such that I signed up for annual support to keep this valuable asset up and running. That being said, I do welcome some ads that align with what this forum is most interested in and about. I like Mags idea of paying for an ad free version of FPN.

 

If taking votes, I'll vote for that now.

 

Rube

[wimg]

Dear all,

 

If you find your replies here are missing, they will have been moved to the main topic on this subject, which you can find here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/253067-feedback-request-on-advertising/

 

This topic is closed now, please do refer to the actual discussion topic if you'd like to contribute your ideas and thoughts.

 

Thank you very much in advance!

 

Warm regards, Wim

FPN Admin